Quick overview

• Ways to explore: Choose timed, self-guided State Rooms or Royal Mews visits, guided walking tours, or a standalone Changing the Guard experience.
  
• Royal combinations: Pair State Rooms with Changing the Guard, or combine the Guard with The King’s Gallery and Royal Mews when open.
  
• Beyond the Palace: Take a guided walk covering Westminster Abbey, Big Ben & Buckingham Palace, or use the Headout Pass London to choose 2–7 attractions.
  
• Unique experiences: Combine the Changing the Guard with a Thames Afternoon Tea Cruise, or see The King’s Gallery and Royal Mews on a single guided experience.
  
• Queues & access: The State Rooms + Royal Walking Tour includes skip-the-line Palace entry; all visitors must pass venue security checks.
  
• When to book: The State Rooms are open July 9–September 27, 2026; the Royal Mews and King’s Gallery follow separate seasonal schedules. August, weekends, and first-morning slots sell out fastest, so book 1–2 weeks ahead if your date is fixed.
  
• Good to know: Most experiences allow cancellation 24–72 hours ahead; the Changing the Guard + Afternoon Tea Cruise is non-refundable. For the broadest royal experience, choose the Changing the Guard with King’s Gallery & optional Royal Mews entry option when all venues are open.

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Things to know before booking your Buckingham Palace tickets

Booking window

• Book ahead for summer dates: The State Rooms are open from July 9 to September 27, 2026, while the Royal Mews is open from March 5 to November 1. The King’s Gallery follows its own schedule, so check the dates for your selected experience.

What’s included

• Entry tickets: Standard Buckingham Palace tickets include the State Rooms and a multimedia guide. Most visitors spend about 90 minutes inside before continuing along the garden exit walk. These tickets do not include entry to the Royal Mews or King’s Gallery.
  
• Royal Mews tickets: Include the working stables, royal horses, Diamond Jubilee State Coach, and Gold State Coach.

Ways to explore

• Self-guided visits: State Rooms and Royal Mews tickets let you explore at your own pace with included multimedia guides.
  
• Live-guided options: Add a Royal London walking tour before Palace entry, join a Changing the Guard tour with an expert English-speaking guide, or choose the standalone Changing the Guard experience with a small-group guide.
  
• Wider London tours: The Westminster Abbey, Big Ben & Buckingham Palace experience combines Abbey entry with a guided walking tour outside Buckingham Palace; it does not include Palace entry.

Special access & combinations

• Combine royal attractions: One experience pairs Changing the Guard with The King’s Gallery and Royal Mews, with the Royal Mews included only when it is seasonally open.
  
• Add a Thames experience: The Changing the Guard + Afternoon Tea Cruise combines a 1.5-hour guided royal walking tour with a 1.5-hour Thames cruise and afternoon tea.
  
• Build a wider London itinerary: The London attraction pass covers 2–7 attractions from a selection of 45+, with Buckingham Palace-related experiences available within the broader assortment.

Policies & accessibility

• Check the selected experience: Cancellation windows range from 24 hours to 7 days. The Changing the Guard + Afternoon Tea Cruise is non-refundable. Accessibility varies: the Royal Mews is wheelchair and pram/stroller accessible, while the State Rooms and several guided experiences have accessibility restrictions.

Tips & guidelines

• Don't linger on the Grand Staircase landing; audio-guide clustering starts there, and the one-way route backs up quickly.
  
• Avoid the Throne Room and Picture Gallery between 11am and 3pm; Changing of the Guard crowds often feed that denser midday flow.
  
• Save your slowest look for the Picture Gallery, not the early rooms; the route usually spreads out by then.
  
• Use the garden exit path for your palace photos; it's the first legal camera point and frames the rear façade.
  
• Take the Ministers' Staircase slowly; its 41 steps come late in the route, when attention and footing both drop.
  
• Don't rush past the West Terrace Garden Café; the rear-lawn view is the route's calmest decompression point.
  
• Don't assume a quick toilet stop after security; facilities are only in the garden area.
  
• Visitors using wheelchairs should use the pre-arranged front-of-palace access route; it avoids the Grand Staircase and Ministers' Staircase.
  
• Check the schedule of the Changing the Guard ceremony: If you want to experience this iconic ceremony, schedule your visit accordingly. Note that the Changing the Foot Guards Ceremony happens on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays, while the Changing the Horse Guard Ceremony is on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. It takes place at 11am, and the best views are from the Victoria Memorial steps or along the Palace railings.
  
• Take note of the royal flags: Keep an eye on the flag above the Palace! If the Royal Standard is flying, the King is in residence — definitely a fun detail to share with friends!
  
• Head to the Family Pavilion: During your summer visit, be sure to stop by the Family Pavilion on the terrace. This dedicated space offers a variety of activities and areas for children to play and unwind.